The child welfare field recognizes that youth of some racial and ethnic backgrounds are overrepresented in the system. African American and American Indian children, for example, are overrepresented in out-of-home care compared to their representation in the general population, while Hispanic overrepresentation can be variable.

Why does this happen? What are the consequences? How can it be prevented? This textbook seeks to answer these questions. Child welfare workers—as well as practitioners of many social services, including health, education, and justice—can explore nuances within the far-reaching issue of disproportionality section by section. Chapters discuss racial disproportionality and outcome disparity, what happens to children who face these obstacles, and how child welfare can partner with other systems to build organizational and community-based supports to address disproportionality and reduce disparity.